Trump’s Fed Chair Finalists: Hassett, Warsh, and Waller

President Trump confirmed Friday that his top three candidates to replace Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell are Kevin Hassett, Kevin Warsh and Christopher Waller.

Trump was asked by a reporter with Bloomberg News if his top three candidates were Hassett, who serves as head of the White House National Economic Council; Warsh, who previously served on the Fed board of governors; and Kevin Waller, an economics professor and current member of the Fed board.

“Yeah, I would say you could say those are the top three,” Trump responded. “Good job.”

Trump has for months telegraphed that he intends to replace Powell, whose term as chair of the central bank expires next May.

Trump has relentlessly pressured Powell to lower interest rates, and some Trump allies have sought to lay the groundwork to potentially oust him.

The president has also moved to fire Lisa Cook, a member of the Fed board of governors, which would give him another opening to appoint an ally.

Cook has pushed back on the attempts to remove her.

Trump has said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was taken out of the running to serve as chair of the Fed because he is happy with his current job.